Rotary-impact tools

ABSTRACT

A pneumatic tool capable of imparting rotary and axial movement to a bit, either singly or together. A single adjustable member selectively provides communication between a pneumatic inlet and only the rotating portion of the tool, between the inlet and the impacting portion of the tool, or between the inlet and both the rotating and impacting portions. Additionally, the adjustable member can be used to provide a blast of pneumatic fluid from the tool.

United States Patent 1191 Rosselet ROTARY-IMPACT TOOLS [75] lnventor: Claude Rosselet, Founex near Nyon,

Switzerland [73] Assignee: Olin Authier S.A., Biere (Vaud),

Switzerland 22 Filed: Mar. 13, 1972 [211 Appl. No.1 233,915

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Mar. 16, 1971 Switzerland 003807/71 52 us. c1; 173/48, 173/65,'173/77, 173/105 [51] Int. Cl B25f 1/00, B25d 9/00 [58] Field of Search. 173/64, 65, 59, 105, 108, 134, 173/168, 169, 47, 48

[56] I References Cited UNITED STATESPATENTS 1,663,403 3/1928 Gilrnan 173/65 Feb. 12, 1974 3,074,381 l/l963 Osgood 173/134 X 3,403,738 10/1968 Burkhart et al 173/105 X 1,703,841 2/1929 Gartin 173/65 X Primary Examiner-Marvin A. Champion Assistant ExaminerWilliam F. Pate, lIl Attorney, Agent, or FirmDonald R. Motsko et al.

1 5 ABSTRACT A pneumatic tool capable of imparting rotary and axial movement to a bit, either singly or together. A single adjustable member selectively provides communication' between a pneumatic inlet and only the rotating portion of the tool, between the inlet and the impacting portion of the tool, or between the inlet and both the rotating and impacting portions. Additionally, the adjustable member can be used to provide a blast of pneumatic fluid from the tool.

5 Claims, 14 Drawing Figures PAIENTEDFEBI 2 4 3.791.461

sum 1 BF 2 FIG-l PAIENIEUFEB 1 21914 sum 2 OF 2 1 ROTARY-IMPACT TooLs This invention relates generally to rotary-impact tools, and more particulary to such tools which are operated by pneumatic fluid.

Rotary-impact tools are usually portable machines which, in some cases, are actuated by a universal electric motor. In such cases, the operation of the tool requires certain measures to be taken to ensure the safety of the operator such as double insulation or the utilization of low voltage. Additionally, the motor must be protected against over charging and circuit breaking. It is also necessary to take into account the mechanical resistance of the communtator and carbon brushes, as well as considering the problem of overheating.

The present invention proposes to totally eliminate the inconvenience of an electric motor in tools of the type mentioned above by utilizing a different source of power for the actuation by. pneumatic fluid.

A tool, constructed in accordance with the present invention, is characterized by relatively small size but with a significant operating force. Two of the functions of the tool, namely, imparting rotation and impaction to a tool bit can be selectively used, i. e., separately or simultaneously, by means of a unique selector. This same selector can be used to provide for a jet of pneumatic fluid for the cleaning of punched holes independently of the other functions of the tool. The tool constructed in accordance with the present invention is further characterized by simplicity in its assembly and disassembly. Additionally, the maintenance of the tool is enhanced by the reason that lubrication of the moving parts thereof is ensured by oil-impregnating pneumatic fluid emanating from the rotary or impacting portion of the tool. 4

Thus, the present invention relates to a pneumatically operated rotary-impact tool which has a pneumatic fluid feed system as well as a control mechanism for the pneumatic fluid. The tool is characterized by the fact that the control mechanism for the pneumatic fluid comprises a, manually operated distributor. The distributor directs the pneumatic fluid selectively to a fluid motor for rotation of aworking tool such as a bit and/or toward a pneumatic hammer which will impart an impact to a bit.

The present invention will be better understood by reference to the following description of the preferred embodiment of the invention and to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal cross section of the preferred embodiment of the tool;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the distributor; 1

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the lines 3--3 of FIG. 1 showing the distributor in a position to .showing the distributor rotated 90 into a position wherein the pneumatic fluid is vented through a port;

FIGS. 9, 10and 11 are cross-sectional views taken in the same direction as FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 respectively, but showing the distributor rotated from its position shown in FIGS. 6-8 into a position where the pneumatic fluid is fed only to the hammer portion of the tool; and

FIGS. 12, 13 and 14 are cross-sectional views taken in the same direction a s'FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 respectively, but showing the distributor rotated 90 from its position shown in FIGS. 9-11 into a positon where pneumatic fluid is fed only to the rotating portion of the tool.

Referring to FIG. 1, a tool 2 constructed in accordance with the invention is adapted to be connected to a source of pneumatic fluid such as compressed air by a hose 4 connected to the tool 2 by a hose fitting 6. The pneumatic fluid is admitted to the tool 2 when the valve 8, which is normally pressed against its valve seat 10 by a spring 12, is opened by a push rod 14 which is actuated by the trigger finger 16 of trigger 18 which rotates about axis 20.

The pneumatic fluid, admitted into the tool 2 by the opening of valve 8, enters the interior of a hollow cylindrical distributor 22 which is mounted for rotation about its axis in the tool 2. The distributor 22 includes a cylindrical aperture 24 in its upper end through which the push rod 14 extends. The distributor 22 is also provided with diametrically opposed upper orifices 26 and 28, an intermediate orifice 30 which is aligned axially in the wall of the distributor 22 with orifice 26, and two lower orifices 32 and 34 having their axes in the same 2 3929 2, spacdQQ? ar rtwithoiifis 32. b l g axially in the wall of the distributor 22 with orifices 26 and 30.

The distributor is manually rotated by means of a selector 36 shown in FIG. 1. Suitable means (not shown) may be provided to permit the exact positioning of the se sstori z f9 2Qit 9nsi Qfr m w b the -w The upper orifices 26 and 28 cooperate with an orifree 38 in the internal housing of the tool while the lower orifices 32 and 34 cooperate with an orifice 40 in the internal housing. I When orifice 26 or 28 is placed in communication with orifice 38, pneumatic fluid is fed to a pneumatic hammer 41 which includes an automatic cycling piston 42. The front end 44 of the piston is adapted to strike a suitable bit (not shown) such as a punch, chisel, or drill which can be fixed in the chuck 46.

The piston 42 is mounted for reciprocal movement in sleeves 48 and 50 which are mounted within the housing assembly of the tool. Sleeve 48 has a rearward internal portion 52 of constant diameter, a forward portion 54 of reduced internal diameter separated from the rearward portion 52 by a circular internal groove 56. Sleeve 50 extends forwardly from sleeve 48 and has a constant internal diameter equal to that of the rearward portion 52 of sleeve 48. The rearward portion of sleeve 50 overlaps the reduced forward portion 54 of sleeve 50.

The piston 42 comprises a rearward cylindrical head portion 58 having a diameter such that it has a sliding fit with the rearward portion 52 of sleeve 48. A forward cylindrical portion 60 of the piston 42 has it reduced diameter such that it has a sliding fit with the forward portion 54 of sleeve 48 and is separated from the head portion 58 by a circumferential groove 62. An internal bore 64 extends from the rear of the head portion 58 of the piston 42 and splits into two branches 66 and 68 which intersect the external surface of the piston 48 in the region of the forward cylindrical portion.

When pneumatic fluid enters the chamber 70 around the sleeve 48 through orifice 38, the fluid will pass through ports 72 in the sleeve 48 into the interior thereof and act upon the forward face 74 of the head portion 58 of the piston 42 driving the piston rearwardly toward an end cap 76 which closes the rearward end of sleeve 48. The piston 42 will move rearwardly until the ends of branches 66 and 68 of the bore 64 pass the reduced forward portion of 54 of sleeve 48 and become exposed to the pneumatic fluid surrounding the piston 52.

The pneumatic fluid will pass through the bore 64 in the piston 52 into chamber 77 behind the piston 42 and act upon the rear of the head portion of the piston 52 to drive the piston 42 forward. When the end of branches 66 and 68 of the bore are closed by the reduced forward portion 54 of sleeve 48, the pneumatic fluid flow to chamber 77 willbe cut off and the pneumatic fluid will again act upon the forward face 74 of the head portion 58 and begin to drive the piston 42 to the rear again. As long as pneumatic fluid is fed to the hammer portion of the tool through orifice 38, the above described action of the piston will continue and the piston will reciprocate in a cyclic or repeating manner. By virtue of the above described arrangement, the pneumatic hammer 41 has a minimum number of parts.

When orifice 32 or orifice 34 communicates with orifree 40, the pneumatic fluid is fed to a fluid motor 78 which may be of any conventional type such as those including fins or vanes. The shaft of the fluid motor 78 is connected to a reducer 80 on whose shaft 82 is mounted a gear 84. Gear 84 engages the required speed of rotation for a bit positioned in the chuck 56.

In a certain position of the distributor 22, the orifice 30 communicates with an opening 88 in the housing assembly of the tool which leads to the outside of the side of the tool as shown in FIG. 7. This position ensures a blast of pneumatic fluid which can be used to blow cement or concrete out of drilled holes. As will be explained below, the blowing action can take place without the other portions of the tool functioning.

The exhaust emanating from the pneumatic hammer occurs inside the housing assembly of the too]. When oil impregnatic pneumatic fluid is used, lubrication of the gears 86 and 88 is provided for.

The tool is encased in a housing assembly having three parts. The nose 90 supports the bit-retaining spring 92. The front housing 94 surrounds the chuck 46 and gears 84 and 86. The rear housing 96 which includes a grip 98 and encloses the fluid motor 78, its reducer 80, the pneumatic hammer 41, the distributor In position I, represented by FIGS. 3-5, orifice 26 assembly of the tool. In this position, when the tool is actuated pneumatic fluid is blown from the tool while the impacting and rotating functions of the tool are not actuated.

In position III, represented by FIGS. 9-11, the distributor 22 is shown after having been turned a quarter of a turn from position II. Orifices 26, 30, 32 and 34 do not communicate with any other orifice and are closed off. Orifice 28 is in communication with orifice 38 so that upon actuation of the tool, pneumatic fluid is fed to the hammer 41 to actuate it, while the rotation function or blowing function of the tool is not actuated.

In position IV, represented by FIGS. 12-14, the distributor 22 is shown in its position after it has been rotated a quarter of a turn from position III. In this position, orifices 26, 28, 30 and 32 are not in communication with any other orifice. Hence, the hammer function of the tool is not operative when the tool is actuated and it will also not emit a blast of pneumatic fluid. Although orifice 32 is cut off, orifice 34 is in communication with orifice 40 so that when the tool is actuated, pneumatic fluid will flow to the fluid motor and operate the rotary function of the tool. Thus, in position IV, the machine is operative in the rotary phase only.

Although this invention has been described in connection with a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that the various alteration and modification may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined by the following claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A pneumatic tool comprising:

a. a housing assembly having chuck means for thereception of a bit;

' b. rotation means in said housing assembly for rotating said chuck means when subjected to pneumatic fluid pressure;

c. impacting means in said housing assembly for imparting repeated axial impacts to a bit positioned in 'said chuck means when subjected to pneumatic fluid pressure;

d. inlet means for introducing pneumatic fluid pressure into said housing assembly; and

e. distributor means in the form of a single adjustable body for selectively providing pneumatic fluid communication between the inlet means and only said rotation means in one position of said distributor means, between said inlet means and only said impacting means in a second position of said distributor means, and between said inlet means and both said rotation means and said impacting means in a third position of said distributor means.

2. The pneumatic tool of claim 1 wherein said adjustable body is a hollow cylindrical body rotatable about its axis in the tool, said body having its interior in communication with said inlet means, a first pneumatic fluid flow path in said housing assembly leading from said body to said rotation means, a second pneumatic fluid flow path leading from said body to said impacting means, and a plurality of orifice means in said body for providing selective communication between said first and second flow paths and said inlet means.

3. The pneumatic tool of claim 1 wherein said adjustable body is a hollow cylindrical body rotatable about its axis in the tool, said body having its interior in communication with said inlet means, a first pneumatic fluid flow path in said housing assembly between said body and said impacting means, a second fluid flow path in said housing assembly between said body and said rotation means, said first and second fluid flow paths being spaced apart in the direction of the axis of said body, said body having a first set of two diametrically opposed orifices being alignable with said first flowtpath, a second set of two orifices spaced from the first set of orifices in the direction of the axis of said body and alignable with said second flow path, one orifice of said second set being spaced about the circumference of said body from the other, with one of said orifices of said second set having its axis coplanar with the axis of one of the orifices of said first set.

4. The pneumatic tool of claim 3 further including a vent in said housing assembly extending from said body to the outside of said housing assembly, said body including an additional orifice opening from said body in the same direction as the orifices of said first and second set whose axis are coplanar, said additional orifice being alignable with said vent.

5. The pneumatic tool of claim 1 further including a vent in said housing, said distributor means providing communication between said inlet means and said vent when in a fourth position while simultaneously blocking communication between said inlet means and both said rotation means and said impacting means.

1 1 UNITEDSTATESPATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,7 9 l ,46l v Dated February 12, 1974 Inventor (s) C laude Rosselet It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patentand that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 3, Line 34, "Gear 84 engages. .in the chuck 56." should readas --Gear 84 engages a gear 86 connected to the chuck 46. This arrangement provides the reouired speed.

of rotation for a bit positioned in the chuck 56.-

Signed and sealed this 2nd day of July 1974.

(SEAL) Attest: g Y I EDWARD M.FLETCHER, JR. C. MARSHALL DANN- Attesting Officer v Commiss oner of Patents F-" RIW (10-59) i USCOMM-DC 60376-F'69 I I v 5. GOVERNMENY PRINTING OFFICE 2 I959 D-35S '334 

1. A pneumatic tool comprising: a. a housing assembly having chuck means for the reception of a bit; b. rotation means in said housing assembly for rotating said chuck means when subjected to pneumatic fluid pressure; c. impacting means in said housing assembly for imparting repeated axial impacts to a bit positioned in said chuck means when subjected to pneumatic fluid pressure; d. inlet means for introducing pneumatic fluid pressure into said housing assembly; and e. distributor means in the form of a single adjustable body for selectively providing pneumatic fluid communication between the inlet means and only said rotation means in one position of said distributor means, between said inlet means and only said impacting means in a second position of said distributor means, and between said inlet means and both said rotation means and said impacting means in a third position of said distributor means.
 2. The pneumatic tool of claim 1 wherein said adjustable body is a hollow cylindrical body rotatable about its axis in the tool, said body having its interior in communication with said inlet means, a first pneumatic fluid flow path in said housing assembly leading from said body to said rotation means, a second pneumatic fluid flow path leading from said body to said impacting means, and a plurality of orifice means in said body for providing selective communication between said first and second flow paths and said inlet means.
 3. The pneumatic tool of claim 1 wherein said adjustable body is a hollow cylindrical body rotatable about its axis in the tool, said body having its interior in communication with said inlet means, a first pneumatic fluid flow path in said housing assembly between said body and said impacting means, a second fluid flow path in said housing assembly between said body and said rotation means, said first and second fluid flow paths being spaced apart in the direction of the axis of said body, said body having a first set of two diametrically opposed orifices being alignable with said first flow path, a second set of two orifices spaced from the first set of orifices in the direction of the axis of said body and alignable with said second flow path, one orifice of said second set being spaced 90* about the circumference of said body from the other, with one of said orifices of said second set having its axis coplanar with the axis of one of the orifices of said first set.
 4. The pneumatic tool of claim 3 further including a vent in said housing asseMbly extending from said body to the outside of said housing assembly, said body including an additional orifice opening from said body in the same direction as the orifices of said first and second set whose axis are coplanar, said additional orifice being alignable with said vent.
 5. The pneumatic tool of claim 1 further including a vent in said housing, said distributor means providing communication between said inlet means and said vent when in a fourth position while simultaneously blocking communication between said inlet means and both said rotation means and said impacting means. 